Greater Manchester's

In significant evidence to the Covid inquiry, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham claimed ministers made an example of the city-region for taking a stand

- JOSEPH TIMAN

A GOVERNMENT committee was told that Greater Manchester deserved a 'punishment beating' with tougher Covid restrictions because of Andy Burnham's 'appalling behaviour' during the Tier 3 stand-off in autumn 2020, the Covid inquiry has heard.

Giving evidence at the inquiry yesterday, the Greater Manchester mayor said ministers made an example of the city region for taking a stand.

Mr Burnham referred to minutes from a Covid-O cabinet committee meeting held before Tier 3 restrictions were forced upon Greater Manchester despite local leaders arguing that there was not enough financial support available. He told the inquiry of suggestions that Lancashire should have a lighter set of measures than Greater Manchester because they 'showed a willingness to cooperate! The mayor did not reveal who made the comments. However, the M.E.N. understands that the meeting was attended by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak - the prime minister and Chancellor at the time as well as ministers Matt Hancock, Robert Jenrick and Michael Gove.

The Labour mayor also claimed Boris Johnson did not know that tougher restrictions had already been in place in Greater Manchester since the summer when he spoke to the prime minister on the day that the Tier 3 decision was made.

Mr Burnham slammed the government's handling of the pandemic, arguing that 'London-centric' decision-making led to the first lockdown being lifted too soon.

The inquiry, which also heard from the mayors of London and the Liverpool City Region yesterday, was told that regional leaders were not invited to emergency meetings when the coronavirus crisis was unfolding in early 2020.

Mr. Burnham also revealed he was given just one hour to tell local leaders about the additional restrictions that came into force at the end of July 2020.